Saturday, February 13, 2010

Astronaut Charlie Duke's Pay For Going to The Moon: A $13.75 Expense Check

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charlie Duke is the 10th man after Indian Hill resident Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon. Duke made the trip on Apollo 16. He spoke to cadets recently about military travel reimbursement red tape: "The general joked to the crowd of about 500 about the complexity of space travel versus Air Force travel paperwork.'A trip to the moon is a TDY,' or temporary duty assignment, he said. At the time, Air Force travel was reimbursed at $25 per day, which would have accumulated to a total of $275 for the seven-day trip. However, because the Air Force deemed that the government had paid for meals and lodging, NASA cut him a check for only $13.75."